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9(d) B4-0962 and 0989/97

Resolution on the situation in Chittagong Hill Tracts

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Bangladesh

A. whereas the indigenous peoples of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) continue to demand self-rule for its ten different multilingual indigenous communities,

B. welcoming the resumption of peace talks by the government of Bangladesh and Jana Samhati Samiti (JSS), the political party representing the Jumma people of CHT, and their declared intention to resolve the issue by peaceful means through negotiations, and noting that a number of rounds of negotiations started in 1985 without tangible results,

C. having regard to the demographic policy carried out by successive Bangladesh governments towards the indigenous population of CHT, including government-sponsored policies of resettling Bengalis into CHT and forced religious conversion of the indigenous people of CHT,

D. alarmed by the continuation of the conflict in CHT and by the persistent violations of human rights,

E. concerned that more than 55,000 Jumma refugees from CHT have been living for up to ten years in poor conditions in refugee camps, suffering from inadequate health care and malnutrition, resulting in frequent epidemics,

F. noting that the conditions for repatriation of the Jumma refugees from Tripura have not yet been fulfilled,

G. having regard to its previous decision to provide a part of the European Union's financial assistance to Bangladesh for the resettlement of the Bengali settlers in the plains,

H. recognizing the right of the Jumma people to constitutional recognition of their indigenous identity and regional autonomy,

I. stressing the importance of the involvement of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Red Cross in the rehabilitation process of the Jumma refugees,

1. Calls on the Government of Bangladesh to recognise the crucial demands for the traditional land rights and regional autonomy of the Jumma people in the framework of the on-going negotiations;

2. Urges the Government of Bangladesh to review its demographic policy, to relocate the Bengali settlers from CHT and rehabilitate them in the plains, in full respect of their rights and with the full use of the financial assistance of the European Union;

3. Requests the Commission to continue to monitor the situation and to report back to Parliament on its evolution and the use of EU funding;

4. Calls for the demilitarization of the CHT region;

5. Demands that the Bangladesh Government allow free access to the CHT region for international humanitarian and development organizations;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments and parliaments of Bangladesh and India.

This document is published online by Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights